Bongo International Studbook

The Bongo International Studbook provides the data for decision-making
about breeding recommendations and maximising genetic diversity within the
captive population. Both AZA's Bongo SSP Coordinator Ron Surratt and EAZA's
Bongo EEP Coordinator Jake Veasey depend upon the accurate and complete
recording of bongo pedigrees in the studbook to make decisions about which
bongo should be paired for breeding. Bongos are moved from zoo to zoo –
and
from country to country –
as necessary to comply with these decisions.

Details recorded in the studbook pertaining to bongo health are often
requested by veterinarians or curators from various collections, and with the
information gathered from bongo holders regarding a particular problem with
newborn calves splaying, the studbook keeper was able to present findings and
recommendations to help resolve the problem. The studbook keeper also
frequently gets questions about husbandry, diet and so on, and with the
information collected in the studbook is usually able to find answers and
solutions used by other collections.

The necessity for having a healthy gene pool has recently come into
sharp focus as zoo-bred bongos have been returned to Kenya with the intention
of contributing to and enhancing the genetics of the wild population remaining
there. Further analysis of relationships among wild and captive bongos are
currently being done via mitochondrial DNA sampling, with a determined effort
headed by the Bongo Surveillance Project and Rhino Ark to track, and collect
samples from, as many individuals as possible.

This effort is in need of financial support and by spreading the word
to all bongo holders worldwide via the international studbook, the hope on the
part of the studbook keeper is that contributions will be encouraged by the
dissemination of these important news.